Polytrichastrum alpinum var. septentrionale

(Bridel) G. L. Smith

Mem. N.Y. Bot. Gard. 21(3): 37. 1971,.

Basionym: Polytrichum septentrionale Hedwig J. Bot. (Schrader) 1800(1): 285. 1801
Synonyms: Pogonatum alpinum var. septentrionale (Bridel) Bridel Polytrichum alpinum var. septentrionale (Bridel) Lindberg Polytrichum norwegicum
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 27. Treatment on page 127. Mentioned on page 126, 128, 129.

Stems to 2 cm, slender and wiry, in dense tufts. Leaves densely imbricate, not fragile, channeled and incurved when dry, scarcely spreading when moist; not constricted at junction of sheath and blade, the blade persistent, sheath broadly elliptic; marginal lamina typically entire, or finely and remotely serrate toward the tip. Capsule small and subglobose.


Habitat: Soil
Elevation: moderate to high elevations

Distribution

V27 150-distribution-map.gif

Alta., Man., Nfld. and Labr. (Labr.), N.W.T., N.S., Nunavut, Que., Calif., Colo., Mont., Utah, Wash., Wyo., Europe, n Asia

Discussion

Variety septentrionale is an arctic-alpine taxon. In arctic North America there is a correlation between capsule shape and leaf serration, plants with distinctly serrate leaves having ovoid-cylindric or cylindric capsules, whilst those with entire or subentire margins have subglobose or ovoid capsules (D. G. Long 1985).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"broadened" is not a number."wide" is not a number.

narrowly acute;finely acuminate +
prominent +
Gary L. Smith Merrill +
(Bridel) G. L. Smith +
toothed +
differentiated +
Polytrichum septentrionale +
distinct +
persistent +
linear-lanceolate +
firm-textured +
entire +  and serrate +
not pitted +  and papillose +
monoicous +, dioicous +, sexual +  and vegetative +
distantly serrulate;subentire +
sparsely ciliate;smooth +
cucullate +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br />) +
horizontal;suberect;inclined +
subglobose +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
prolonged +
toothed +
undifferentiated +
Alta. +, Man. +, Nfld. and Labr. (Labr.) +, N.W.T. +, N.S. +, Nunavut +, Que. +, Calif. +, Colo. +, Mont. +, Utah +, Wash. +, Wyo. +, Europe +  and n Asia +
moderate to high elevations +
scabrous +, mammillose +  and smooth +
photosynthetic +
5 +  and 8 +
serrate +, crenulate +  and serrulate +
elongate +  and subquadrate +
0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (1.9 cm19 mm <br />0.019 m <br />) +
not fragile +
spreading +  and incurved +
channeled +
not constricted +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br />) +
membranous +
papillose +
pointed +  and pentagonal +
1(-3)-stratose +
papillose +  and smooth +
crenulate +  and serrulate +
shape +  and size +
polygamous +, dioicous +  and sexual +
ovate;narrowly ovate +
sharply toothed +  and entire +
interwoven +
600 cm6,000 mm <br />6 m <br /> (?) +
toothlike +
Mem. N.Y. Bot. Gard. +
underground +
undifferentiated +
enlarged +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br />) +
3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br /> (5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br />) +
hyaline-margined +
elongate-rectangular +
elliptic;obovate +
differentiated +
larger +  and minute +
thick-walled +
6 cm60 mm <br />0.06 m <br /> (14 cm140 mm <br />0.14 m <br />) +
thread-like +
slender +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br />) +
conspicuous +
Pogonatum alpinum var. septentrionale +, Polytrichum alpinum var. septentrionale +  and Polytrichum norwegicum +
Polytrichastrum alpinum var. septentrionale +
Polytrichastrum alpinum +
variety +
multicellular +
darker +  and pale to somewhat +
unjointed +
not keeled +
unequal +
compact +  and loose +
reddish +, brownish green +, green +  and dull +
small +  and variable +